In your Jeep Creep questions, please list your first and last names, your hometown, and your state/province/country, so that we can publish that information here. If you don’t provide this information, we may not be able to publish your question and answer. Don’t forget to be as complete as possible with the description of your Jeep and its problems, too. Send your Jeep questions to editor@off-road.com, Attn: Jeep Creep.

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May 2016

April 2016

March 2016

Two Jeep recalls from NHTSA this month 
16V-240: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured July 16, 2012, to December 22, 2015. The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a mono-stable gear selector, may not adequately warn the driver when driver’s door is opened and the vehicle is not in Park, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear. Drivers thinking that their vehicle’s transmission is in the Park position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software to mitigate the risk of vehicle rollaway, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on May 14, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is S27.

16V-249: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured May 15, 2015, to February 19, 2016. The brake transmission shift interlock solenoid may have a loose electrical connection which could result in a loss of solenoid function. If the solenoid loses function, the transmission may lock in the Park or Neutral position when the vehicle comes to a stop, possibly rendering the vehicle disabled in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter assembly, free of charge. The recall began on May 27, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is S28.

Broken Antennas
What the heck can I do about breaking CB antennas? I’ve tried different lengths, a spring, and tying it down to miss my garage door. Tying it down worked most of the time but sometimes the knot slipped and I got another broken antenna. What else can I do? This is getting expensive!
Blake Edwards
Fort Lauderdale, FL

I feel you, Blake, that’s happened to me a few times too. I found an antenna disconnect on (of all places) Amazon—see the photos. It’s called a FireStik K-1A Push-n-Twist quick disconnect ($16.50) and once it’s installed all it takes is a quick push and twist and you can stick the antenna in your Jeep until you leave the garage again.

Trailer Plug
I was turning around on the trail this past weekend and backed into a rock. First of all, it smashed my trailer plug and then kind of pulled it out, pulling some of the wires loose. I don’t feel like paying an RV shop to connect it for me, so can you help me?
Shari Colbert
Tucson, AZ

Shari, most trailer plug packages have the wiring and color diagram printed on the package. However, check out the diagram I’ve included here. It gives you both sides—in case your trailer doesn’t match the approved color code and locations—of the plugs. Good luck!

Hi-Lift Jack Mounting
I recently added new bumpers to my Jeep. I really like them and I think they’re going to protect it from idiots who don’t know how to park but I forgot to include a way to carry my Hi-Lift. Without having to find a good welding shop, can you help me with this?
Kerry McKain
Las Vegas, NV

You didn’t mention what model Jeep you have, Kerry, but if it’s a TJ or JK, Bolt Locks can provide what you need. The mount can be ordered for either side and in black or red. On top of that, your ignition key will operate the mount’s lock. So your Hi-Lift is secure and you don’t have to add a key to your ring.

Scrambler
I’m so new to the sport I haven’t bought a Jeep yet, but I’m really looking. The new ones are pretty cool but I think I want an older model. I saw one the other day that looked like a small pickup. It had a single cab and a bed, and the bed looked like it was 4 or 5 feet long. I think it would be perfect for what I want. I want a Jeep that I can camp with, go hunting with, and explore the backroads around where I live. Could you give me a guess as to what Jeep it was that I saw? I couldn’t catch it at the time because it was going the other way on the highway.
Stephen Kirby
Waco, TX

Steve, I think what you saw was a Jeep Scrambler CJ-8. I’ve included a photo so you can identify it. They were stretched CJ-7s (104-inch wheelbase), and came with the 4.2L straight six or the 2.5L four-banger engines. All upgrades, modifications, etc., that are available for the CJ-7 will work on the Scrambler. I owned one for several years and loved it. I believe Bestop still offers a full-length soft top for them as well.

Death Wobble #1
My ‘91 Cherokee Limited with a 6-inch lift and 33-inch tires has a horrible death wobble. All the joints are good and all are tight. I noticed that the previous owner broke one of the steering box bolts and I can see minor movement when I stand out the door and turn the wheel. It seems like the frame rail flexes. And I noticed the driver’s front tire is kicked in a bit more than the other side. Could this be the reason? Will a professional alignment and replacing that bolt be my repair?
July Davis
Yucaipa, CA

With that high a lift and relatively oversized tires, you’re putting a strain on your steering assembly even in a parking lot. If you crawl rocks, you’re putting an even higher strain on the components so you need to brace it. You need a cross-frame brace running from the bottom of the gearbox to the opposite side frame rail. Take a look at the website of 4-Wheel Parts and you’ll find the brace you need. Once you have that brace in place, have the Cherokee professionally aligned and your death wobble will be gone!

Death Wobble #2
I have a stock 2005 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and it does the death wobble between 50-60 mph. I’ve always thought it was my tires; however, after changing tires, the DW still occurs just as much. I was going to get my tires rebalanced, but decided to visually check the suspension components. I couldn’t find anything abnormal. I plan on lifting my Jeep so I don’t want to waste any money on fixing the stock suspension, but it may be a year or so before I can afford a good lift kit. I’m concerned if I keep driving it as is it will cause bigger problems (other than suspension).
Jeff Warner
Avondale, AZ

If it’s going to a week or so until you lift your Jeep, you could let the death wobble go. But since you said that it may be a year or so before you lift it, take the Jeep to a good off-road shop that knows 4WD suspension and steering components—such as 4-Wheel Parts, of which there are at least two shops in the Phoenix area—and have the alignment as well as the tires checked. You should also have them check the condition of every steering component. The longer you wait the more potential damage you could do to the steering and suspension components, not to mention that it could even cause an accident.

Switcheroo
I have a ‘91 YJ with a 2.5. I got a ‘90 Cherokee with a 4.0L engine. I am wanting to put the 4.0L in my YJ. What would this take with the ECM and wiring harness?
Chuck Langford
Durango, CO

You’ll need the entire wiring harness and the computer. Everything should be a plug-and-play under the dash, though, but you’ll have to route the harness through the firewall. You’ll also probably need a larger radiator with the larger engine, and your exhaust will have to be replaced. In addition, you may have to adapt the Cherokee’s transmission to the YJ’s T-case.

Back It Up!
Can you help me? I have a 1979 CJ-7 with the 258 (4.2L) inline six-cylinder engine and three-speed transmission. I also have a 1995 Cherokee 2.5L inline four cylinder with a five-speed manual transmission. Will the 2.5L engine from the XJ fit on the three-speed in my CJ, as I want to do an engine swap?
Carl Smith
Avon, United Kingdom

I think you’re trying to go backward, but perhaps it’s because of fuel prices? The bolt pattern to the bellhousing is not even close. You’ll have to contact Advance Adapters for an adapter.

In your Jeep Creep questions, please list your first and last names, your hometown, and your state/province/country, so that we can publish that information here. If you don’t provide this information, we may not be able to publish your question and answer. Don’t forget to be as complete as possible with the description of your Jeep and its problems, too. For some reason the questions have fallen off, and I know we haven’t answered all your Jeep technical questions. There are no dumb questions; only unasked questions. Send them in and try to stump us.—Jim Brightly

More Jeep Creep Q&As
May 2016

April 2016

March 2016

As usual, each month, I’m shouting out a huge THANK YOU to Paul Schupp at Rock Lizard 4x4 in Kingman, Arizona, for his invaluable assistance in answering many of the Jeep Creep questions.